Cultivator.



PATENTED OCT. 31, 1905.

T. H. COPE.

GULTIVATOR.

APPLICATION FILED AUG. 30, 1904.

2' SHEETS-SHEET 1.

,3 46 lNl/ENTOR jf/zamasjz Cio zae AITOR WITNESSES .No- 803,401. PATENTED OCT. 31, 1905. T. H. COPE.

OULTIVATOR. M APPLIOATIOH FILED AUG. 30, 1904.

2 SHEETSSHEBT 2.

lllll 2% ATTOR UNITED STATES PATENT oEEroE.

THOMAS HENRY COPE, OF ELYRIA, OHIO, ASSIGNOR TO JOHN SOHAIBLE, OF ELYRIA, OHIO.

CULTIVATOR.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Oct. 31, 1905.

Application filed August 30, 1904. Serial No, 222,736-

To all whom, it may concern.-

Be it known that I, THOMAS HENRY COPE, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Elyria, in the county of Lorain and State of Ohio, have invented a new and Improved Cultivator, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description.

My invention relates to cultivators, it having for its principal objects the provision of a convenient apparatus the elements of which may be readily adjusted to suit varying conditions in use.

It consists in the various features and combinations hereinafter described and more particularly claimed.

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specifica tion, in which similar characters of reference indicate corresponding parts in all the figures.

Figure 1 is apersp ective view of one embodiment of my invention. Fig. 2 is a side elevation thereof, parts being broken away. Fig. 3 is a vertical sectional detail through the forward cross-bar of the frame, showing the means of adjustment of certain portions of the apparatus. Fig. 4 is a top plan view of the central portion of the frame and associated elements. Fig. 5 is an enlarged detail, in side elevation, of the means for adjusting the distance of the cultivating devices from the ground; and Figs. 6 and 7 are perspective views of a hoe and a rake, respectively, illustrating their manner of attachment to the cultivator-frame.

F designates the main frame of the machine, which is shown as consisting of side bars 10 10 and cross-bars 11 11, situated between the ends of the side bars toward the front and rear, respectively. The forward ends of the side bars converge toward one another at 12 and at their extremities is mounted an axle 13 of a support or wheel 14. It may conveniently pass through a slot 15, which, as illustrated, extends for substantially the entire length of a side bar. The opposite extremity of the frame is curved downwardly and inwardly at 16, and from this portion rise opposite uprights 17 17, bolted at 18 to the side bars. Each of these uprights is pref erably provided with a substantially vertical slot 19, in which may move the axle 20 of a wheel 21, supporting the rear of the apparatus. This axle may be retained in position in the slot by arms 22, pivoted at 23 upon the outer faces of the uprights and each having a series of inclined depressions 24 to receive the axle and hold it at different distances from the ground. From the uprights is a rearward extension or foot-piece 25,which is normally drawn inward or toward the frame to hold one pair of the depressions in engagement with the axle by springs 26, which are shown as extending from the opposite sides of the foot-piece to the ends of the side bars of the frame.

The uprights near their upper ends are connected by a rod 27, which is joined by stays 28 to the forward extremities of the side bars 10. A handle 29 has secured to it bars 30, which are pivoted upon the rod 27 and are extended beyond the pivotal points, they being there provided with enlargements 31, in which are a plurality of openings 32, situated in substantially the arc of a circle of which the rod 27 is the center and being capable of being brought into registration with alined openings in the stays. Through the bar and stay openings a pin 33 maybe passed, this arrangement serving to hold the handle at different distances from the ground, adapting it to the height of the person operating it. Extending longitudinally of the main frame is a center bar 34, having at one end a head 35, which is bolted at 36 to the cross-bar 11, while the opposite end is attached by a bolt 37 to the under side of the bar 11. Near the points of attachment of the center bar are oppositelyextending lugs 38 38, upon which are pivoted pairs of arms 39 39, connected by longitudinal links 40 to form a system having a parallel motion. This system (here shown as through the outer links) is connected by bars 41 with the center bar and secured thereto by a bolt 42, operating in a longitudinal slot 43 therein. This parallellymoving frame has mounted upon it conveniently near the centers of the links cultivatorteeth 44 of any proper form. hen it is desired to use this cultivator-frame, it is attached to the main frame by its bolts and its width adjusted to suit the surface over which it is desired to operate by moving the ends of the bars 41 along the slot 43 and fixing them therein by means of the bolt. It should be noted that at whatever distance the links are from the center bar they will always extend in the same direction, so that the teeth will operate at the same angle. The range of adjus tment maybc somewhat increased by having the pivotal points of the arms 39 located in angular extensions 45 at the outer sides thereof, the eccentricity of location of these pivots from the axes of the bars increasing their throw.

To the under side of the cross-bar 11 is fixed a socket 4:6, in which operates the shank 47 of a blade 48, the shank being capable of both moving vertically in the socket and of rotation, thus allowing the distance of ,the blade from the ground and its angular relation to be adjusted, it being fixed in position by a setscrew 48, threaded through the side of the socket. A hoe 49 and a rake 50 may be also provided, each having a shank 51, bolted at 52 in the slot 15 in the side bar, they being capable of adjustment along said slot to assume any position longitudinally of the frame.

The nuts of all the bolts which hold removable elements in place are preferably of the winged or butterfly type, so that they may be loosened or tightened. without the use of a wrench.

The general method of use of my improved apparatus is similar to that commonly followed with these machines, the particular digging or cultivating elements being attached which will perform the desired function. Whatever tools are employed, their position with relation to the ground may be varied by altering the inclination of the frame, this being accomplished. by releasing the axle 20 from its engagement with the depressions in the arms 22 by the pressure of the foot against the extension 25 and then raising or lowering the frame by means of the handle. Upon the proper position being at tained the foot-piece is released, bringing one or another of the pairs of depressions into cooperation with the axle and holding it in place. If the parallel frame with the teeth be attached, this may be adjusted as to width, the blade 48 may be varied as to height and angle, and the hoe and rake shifted longitudinally, each being applied. alone or in combination with other elements, as will best attain the desired result. After the vertical adjustment of any of the elements is secured it maintained constant by the presence of the two supporting-wheels,which prevent any variation. in the angular position of the frame with regard to the ground until a readjustment is made.

It should be particularly noticed that my tool-frame, comprising the longitudinal bar, arms, links, and tools, is self-contained, by which I mean that it may be removed as an entirety. This is an important feature, for

it allows one tool-frame to be substituted for another m the easlest manner possible and without disturbing other attachments.

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new and.desire to secure by Letters Patent- 1. In a cultivator, the combination with a frame, of a wheel journaled near one end thereof, uprights rising from the opposite extremity of the frame, a wheel movably mounted in the uprights, and pivoted arms for retaining the wheel in place.

2. In a cultivator, the combination with a frame, of a wheel journaled near one end thereof, uprights rising from the opposite extremity of the frame, a wheel movably mounted in the uprights, pivoted arms for retaining the wheel in place, and a spring for normally holding said arms in coaction with the wheel. Y

3. In a cultivator, the combination with a frame, of a wheel journaled near one end thereof, uprights rising from the opposite extremity of the frame, a wheel movably mounted in the uprights, pivoted arms for retaining the wheel in place, and a rearward extension from said arms.

4. In a cultivator, the combination with a frame, of a wheel journaled near one end thereof, uprights rising from the opposite eX- tremity of the frame and having slots, an axle movable in the slots, and retaining members having a series of depressions to receive the axle.

5. In a cultivator, the combination with a frame comprising side bars and connecting cross-bars, of teeth supported between the cross-bars, a socket depending from one of the cross-bars, and a blade having a shank operating in the socket.

6. In a cultivator, the combination with a frame, of wheels supporting the frame, uprights situated near one end of said frame, stays connecting the frame and uprights, a handle pivotally mounted upon the uprights, and means for adjustably connecting the handle with the stays.

7. In a cultivator, the combination of a pair of wheels placed tandem ,longitudinal side bars on opposite sides of the wheels, connecting cross-bars between the wheels, and an expansible self-contained tool-frame removably carried by the cross-bars.

S. The combination. of a pair of wheels placed tandem, a frame therefor, a longitudinal bar removably carried by the frame and having ears extending on opposite sides, lateral arms pivoted to said ears, links connecting said arms, and stay-arms each connected at its outer end to one of said links and both connected at their inner ends to said longitudinal bar.

9. In a cultivator, the combination with a main frame consisting of a pair of side bars and cross-bars carried thereby, of a separable selfcontained expansible tool frame comprising a longitudinal bar with adjustable wings on opposite sides thereof, said tool-frame being adapted to be secured near the ends of said bar to the cross-bar of the frame, the longitudinal bar of the tool-frame being laterally extended to engage the crossbar and prevent tipping of the tool-frame.

10. In a cultivator, the combination with the main frame, of a removable self-contained tool-frame carried thereby and comprising a longitudinal bar having lateral ears and a longitudinal slot, lateral arms pivoted to the ears, links connecting the arms on the same side of the bar, and locking-arms each pivoted at one end to one of said links and both at the other end overlapping said slot, and a single clamping bolt passing through both the locking-arms and the slot and serving to hold the tool-frame in adjustable degrees of spread.

1 1. The combination with the main frame of a cultivator, of a separable self-contained tool-frame comprising a fiat longitudinal bar havin lateral ears, flat lateral arms pivoted to said ears, links parallel with the longitudinal bar and pivoted to said arms, said longitudinal bar being slotted between the ears, a pair of fiat locking-arms each ivcted at its outer end to the outermost lin and at their inner ends overlapping each other and overlapping the slot in the longitudinal bar, and a single clamping-bolt passing through such overlapped ends and the slot.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

THOMAS HENRY COPE.

Witnesses:

CHAs. G. LORD, IDA M. HARTMAN. 

